Big Story
Your editor is behind today, as I spent last night meeting with Chicago Fire
owner and chairman Andrew Hauptman, discussing many of the issues I raised in my
open letter to Fire ownership last month.
Click to continue reading...
Jason Kreis and RSL are the most frustrating duo in MLS. Former listeners to the American Soccer
Show on CSRN will know that I have a soft spot for the club, not because of any geographic tie, but
because of the presence of former Miami Fusion players up and down the organization, starting with
GM Garth Lagerway.
Click to continue reading...
As I mentioned on Monday with the release of our latest podcast, we are making some exciting
changes at MLS Talk. One of these changes will be our new "Legends of MLS" series on both our
podcast and website. Often times, MLS History is unknown or hardly written for the new fan. We seek
to bridge a gap in understanding and recognition of certain players, coaches and clubs.
Click to continue reading...
Want improvement? A century ago as America's eastern cities overpopulated it was, "Go West,
young man." For soccer a century later the trumpet sounds the same. Only going west means tracking
back to the previous Western frontier. In mainland Europe. Or at least that's what Simon Kuper
believes and writes in his and economist Stefan Szymanski's new book, Soccernomics.
Click to continue reading...
The first round of MLS playoffs (aka MLS Conference Semi-finals)Â always spurs heated discussion
about its playoff format as well as the League's two conference structure.
Let's take an overview of various playoff format options and League structures for Major League
Soccer. There should be three objectives to a playoff format and League Structure:
1) Crown a worthy champion
2) Entertain the fans
3) Maximize revenue for the teams and League
No matter what playoff format is used or what tweaks are made to improve it, a percentage of
fans will criticize it and offer other imperfect solutions.
Click to continue reading...
For those of us that follow a major European team, there is a weekly pattern that develops over
the season. After the weekend game, many fans like myself spend a couple of days absorbing
commentary about the game. Youtube is scoured for clips and the blogs are mined for insights.
Click to continue reading...
kenn.com 02 November @ 03:17 PM EST
The National Soccer Hall of Fame has announced the ten former stars on the ballot for this
year's Veteran Player election. I don't vote in this one (Hall of Famers do), but here are some
thoughts on the ten veterans up for election (they're the exact same ten as last year, when no one
was elected):
- Desmond Armstrong: I don't think he's going to make it.
Click to continue reading...
You know what would be bad ass? If Becks would shave the beard but keep the mustache. I really feel
like what we need right now is a return to wide-brooms and "real ales" beards. It's kind of sad
that Shep Messing --who has been retired for more than 20 years-- is the dude who's really holding
it down for consistent and prominent facial hair in the American soccer diaspora.
Click to continue reading...
Dear Mr. Goodell,
What has been witnessed all season long at Qwest Field in Seattle is the potential of
professional Soccer in the U.S. Interestingly, it has all taken place at a football stadium.Â
Who would have ever guessed, 14 years in, that MLS would make its biggest impact in a football
stadium.
Click to continue reading...
The dispute between several clubs in the USL's first division and the league's administrators
has reached the end-game this week, and Triangle Offense is reporting that the breakaway Team
Owners Association is submitting its application for recognition as a league to the US Soccer
Federation.
Click to continue reading...
This past week I was asked by Inside The Six's Richard Farley to discuss about MLS, the last
match at Giants Stadium, Red Bull New York, MLS as a whole and the situation of the USL & the
future of American Soccer.
Richard Farley who has been a guest many times on the MLS Talk Podcast with Kartik Krishnaiyer
was gracious enough to allow me to share my thoughts on the game here in the USA.
Click to continue reading...
photo courtesy Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com
What was Pat Onstad thinking? How could he lose his cool so suddenly in the most important game
in the Dynamo's season? A dangerous cross came through the penalty area, just out of his reach, and
continued over the byline. Sure, replays show Fredy Montero obstructing the goalkeeper, but not in
any way dangerously.
Click to continue reading...
Â
Photo by ISIphotos.com
The U.S. Under-17 national team won a World Cup game on Thursday, but for many American
observers, the 1-0 victory against Malawi didn't quite feel like a triumph. The disappointing
performance led to some criticism (from SBI among others), and while it might seem misguided to be
critical of a team of teenagers, the fact remains that this U-17 squad isn't just some youth
team.
Click to continue reading...
Â
Photo by ISIphotos.com
The U.S. Under-17 national team won a World Cup game on Thursday, but for many American
observers, the 1-0 victory against Malawi didn't quite feel like a triumph. The disappointing
performance led to some criticism (from SBI among others), and while it might seem misguided to be
critical of a team of teenagers, the fact remains that this U-17 squad isn't just some youth
team.
Click to continue reading...
There was plenty of huffing and puffing in Seattle Thursday - here former Galaxy striker Nate
Jaqua and Houston's Geoff Cameron challenge for the ball - but no-one blew anyone's house down in
the scoreless draw. (AP Photo) The first game of the MLS playoffs are over and neither Chivas USA
nor the Galaxy are any closer to knowing who the winner of their semifinal will face in the Western
Conference Championship.
Click to continue reading...
There are a few things that have been detrimental to the image of MLS this week, including Alexi
Lalas' face appearing every time I open the MLS homepage. High on my list would have been MLS
moving the Fire's away playoff game at New England to Sunday from Saturday, just two days after
they had scheduled it for the original date in the first place.
Click to continue reading...
Through the Chicago Fire's first decade, the MLS team was led on the field by one of two men,
former Poland National Team Captain Piotr Nowak through the team's first five seasons and formerÂ
United States National Team Captain Chris Armas through its second five. Piotr was on hand last
Thursday night, along with fellow Ring of Fire members Frank Klopas, Bob Bradley and me, to welcome
Chris into the team's hall of fame.
Click to continue reading...
No surprise there, then: in a tanking economy where even the nation's most popular league, the
NFL, has had trouble selling tickets and Major League Baseball's attendance fell 6.9%, it's not a
shock to learn that as Soccer America reports, MLS' attendance fell overall by 2.9% in the regular
season just concluded, falling from 16,460 in 2008 to 16,037.
Click to continue reading...
This morning, EPLTalk writes about "How American Soccer Fans Are Smarter Than Average
Americans."
I don't know how soccer fans stack up compared to "average Americans," but I do think that
following soccer can make you smarter. It's not that you have to be smart in order to follow
soccer, it's that through the act(s) of being a soccer fan, you learn a lot especially as it
relates to geography and foreign culture.
Click to continue reading...
It was great to see the U.S. qualify for the World Cup and I think that's great for American
soccer, but as a Swede, of course I'm upset that we couldn't qualify. Our biggest rival is Denmark
and we knocked them out last qualification round and unfortunately they knocked us out this
time.
And they are much more relaxed here in Seattle.
Click to continue reading...
EPL Talk 28 October @ 04:30 AM EST
I've lost track of the number of times Americans ask me where I'm from, and I mention Wales only
to hear the next follow-up question, which is "Where is Wales? Is that part of England?"
While most US residents get an F in geography (not just from me, but from many scholars), I've
found that soccer fans living in the United States are far smarter than average Americans for the
following reasons:
- Time difference wizards.
Click to continue reading...
The NFL's Giants Stadium was once a famous venue of American soccer, a must-be-seen place with
packed crowds and Pele in the 1970s.
Then the New York MetroStars, later rebranded to Red Bull New York, started playing there almost
two decades later in Major League Soccer.
As the Red Bulls laid the final piece of sod today at their new, impressive Red Bull Arena in
New Jersey, some current players took the chance to express their feelings about Giants Stadium and
the support they (did not) receive there.
Click to continue reading...
The plight of Toronto FC and the frustration of its fans are popular fodder around the North
American soccer community these days. The moaning angst of Reds supporters can be heard down here
in the...
Click to continue reading...
The Houston Dynamo's 2009 regular season came to an end on Sunday as they beat Chivas USA 3-2 at
the Home Depot Center. Coming into Sunday's match, both teams had secured playoff berths, but the
outcome would decide the seeding of the teams. By beating the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, the
L.
Click to continue reading...
The season is over and, after a wild weekend, we have our playoff teams. The first round of
playoffs looks like this:
West
LA Galaxy vs Chivas USA
Houston Dynamo vs Seattle Sounders
East
Columbus Crew vs Real Salt Lake
New England Revolution vs Chicago Fire
Before we start previewing this first round of the playoffs, let's spend a moment looking back
at how we got here:
For the last month, the MLS essentially had a single table, and it was
great!
Click to continue reading...
First off, I must admit that I hate it in sports when a person is titled Best Ever. Is Michael
Jordan the best basketball player ever? If I were to say no then people would be all over me.Â
They would name his championship titles, MVP trophies, signature dunks, and Gatorade commercials as
evidence of this.
Click to continue reading...
the yorkies 23 October @ 05:09 PM EST
NEW YORK RED BULLS VS. TORONTO FC
Giants Stadium - Saturday, 7:30PM EST
TV: GOL-TV - RADIO: The Fan 590
In the wacky world of North American soccer football there are very few historical sites. While we
will stop short of comparing East Rutherford, New Jersey's Giants Stadium to the likes of the San
Siro, Nou Camp or Wembley, you have to admit it has played a large concrete role in the continent's
footy story.
Click to continue reading...
by Matt - US Soccer Daily The past couple months were aptly referred to as "The Summer of Soccer"
by the top figures in American soccer, and for good reason. World Cup qualifiers, MLS play, the...
Click to continue reading...
Last night, the Chicago Fire made their latest induction into the club's Ring of Fire, which
acknowledges heroes of the team's history. Added last night was Chris Armas, joining Bob Bradley,
Piotr Nowak, Lubos Kubik, Frank Klopas and Pitch Invasion's own Peter Wilt in the Ring. Despite
the pouring rain all night, Fire supporters, including myself, stayed in the stands to recognise
Chris at an excellent half-time ceremony, midway through a critical game that eventually saw the
Fire reach the MLS playoffs after a 1-0 win over Chivas USA.
Click to continue reading...
When the New York Red Bulls take on Toronto FC on Saturday night, it will mark the final soccer
game at Giants Stadium. With the new Giants Stadiums set to open in 2010, and the New York Red
Bulls moving into Red Bull Arena in the spring, soccer fans will finally be able to say farewell to
the former home of the New York Cosmos as well as the site of so many great soccer memories.
Click to continue reading...
When the New York Red Bulls take on Toronto FC on Saturday night, it will mark the final soccer
game at Giants Stadium. With the new Giants Stadiums set to open in 2010, and the New York Red
Bulls moving into Red Bull Arena in the spring, soccer fans will finally be able to say farewell to
the former home of the New York Cosmos as well as the site of so many great soccer memories.
Click to continue reading...
By Clemente Lisi - NEW YORK, NY (Oct 23, 2009) USSoccerPlayers -- It was twenty years ago next
month that a young US team traveled to Trinidad & Tobago and earned an improbable berth to the 1990
World Cup. Twenty years later, wining that game is considered the starting point for the new era of
American soccer.
Click to continue reading...
U.S. National Team forward Landon Donovan made history today by winning the 2009 Honda Player of
the Year Award, thus becoming the only six time winner of the most coveted prize in U.S. Soccer.
For the last 19 years, the award has honored the best player on the U.S. National Soccer Team as
chosen by the American soccer media.
Click to continue reading...
One shouldn't be in the business of making blind endorsements, but I'm going to step out and echo
my dude Dunny's co-sign on Steve Sirk's new Columbus Crew book, A Massive Season. I haven't read it
but it's just nice to see some American soccer-based product available in Amazon.com.
This coupled with the long, long, long-awaited release of Simon Kuper's upcoming book,
Soccernomics, makes for a banner month for The Largest Library of Soccer Related Literature on the
Jersey Shore™.
Click to continue reading...
Yesterday, we tackled the notion that American soccer fans are snobbish and elitist by highlighting
a piece written on the subject by Alex Akita at The Bleacher Report. I attempted to explain part...
Click to continue reading...